Antenna rotating means



April 2, 1957 R. E. FARR ET AL 2,737,169

ANTENNA ROTATING MEANS Filed Jan. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l s1) ii" Robert E. Farr Glen 7i N/ederhauser Harry 0. M'eder/muser Benjamin 6. Mederhauser IN VEN TORS BY MM FM April 2, 1957 R. E. FARR ET AL ANTENNA ROTATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Fig. 5 f

Fig.6

Fig.7

x1? 96 94 1111mm 58 40 52 Harry 0. Mederhauser Benjamin 6. N/ederhauser JNVENTORS United States Patent ANTENNA ROTATING MEANS.

Robert E. Farr, Glen T. Niederhauser, Harry D. Niederhauser, and Benjamin C. Niederhauser, Marshalitown, Iowa Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,854

1 Claim. (Cl. 74-506) T his invention relates to an antenna rotating apparatus, and more particularly to a device for positioning an antenna for most advantageous reception of wave energy.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of manually operable means for rotating an antenna.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of positive means for adjustably positioning and locking an antenna in a desired position.

One of the features of the invention resides in the provision of means for indicating the position of the antenna.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an antenna rotating means that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manu facture, easy to operate by manual. manipulation, and which may be installed on .any suitable structure.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this antenna rotating apparatus, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the antenna rotating means as operatively installed;-

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of parts in conjunction with the mast of the antenna;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2;

:Fig'ure 4 is a perspective view of the actuating mechanism of the antenna rotating apparatus;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 66 in Figure 5 and illustrating in particular detail the construction of the indicator; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 77 in Figure 5, illustrating the brake means comprising one of the important elements of the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates any conventional antenna array, or the like, which is adapted .to be supported by a mast 12 in such manner that the antenna rotating apparatus comprising the present invention can be utilized to rotate the antenna 10 so that the antenna 18 may receive an opimum signal.

The mast 12 has aflixed thereto an upper mounting plate to which a threaded portion 16 of reduced cross sectional area is appended. The portion 16 of the mast 12 extends through an aperture in the web 18 of a [twin driven pulley 20. An antenna supporting member 22 is affixed to the Web 13 by any suitable means such as welding. The pulley 28 as well as the antenna supporting member 22 is held in place on the threaded upper end portion 16 of the mast 12 by means of the nuts 24.

Carried by the mast 12 is a support bracket 26 which carries guide pulleys 28. Secured to the pulley 20 and entrained about the pulleys 28 are cables 30 and 32, the cables 30 and 32 being entrained in opposition about the pulley 2d and each having one end thereof secured to the pulley 20.

The other ends of the cables 30 and 32 are secured to a drive pulley 34, it being noted that turnbuckles as at 36 and 38 are utilized within the cables 30 and 32 for maintaining the cables 36 and 32 taut.

The pulley 34 is mounted on a shaft 40 which is rotatably mounted Within a substantially rectangular facing and one end of the shaft 40 which extends through the casing 42 has afiixed thereto .a handle 44 by any suitable fastener, as at 46. The handle 44 is adapted to be utilized in rotating the shaft 40 and hence the pulley 34 which is, of course, keyed to the shaft 40 and lockingly held in place on the shaft by means of nuts 48 which are threadedly engaged on the shaft 40. It is to be noted that the shaft d0 extends through the wall 50 of the building in which the present device is installed. A sleeve 52 is first inserted in the wall 50, the sleeve being provided with a threaded end as at 54. A threaded stop member 56 is engaged on the sleeve 52 for lockingly holding the sleeve 52- in position. Collars as at 58 and till are positioned on the shaft 40 and .are held in place by cotter keys 62 and 64 extending through transverse apertures in the shaft 40.

it to be noted that the collar 58 is Within the casing 42 thus holding the shaft 44 relative to the casing 42.

Threadedly secured on the threaded portion 66 of the shaft as is indicator member 68 which has attached thereto a substantially rectangular Wire frame 70. The frame "it? is attached to the member 66 as by welding or the like and carries a substantially horizontal rod 72 extending transversely of the casing 42 and which upon rotation of the shaft 40 will abut against one of the walls of the casing 32, thus preventing rotation of the indicator member 63 when the shaft is being rotated and thus causing, because of the threaded advance of the portion 66 of the shaft 40, the indicator member 63 to move relative to the casing 42. The casing 42 is provided with an elongated slot 74 therein through which an indicator flag '76 appended to the rectangular frame 7d of the indicator member 66 extends. Suitable indicia. as at 7b indicative of direction such as north, east, south and West are printed or otherwise applied on the casing adjacent the slot 74 and the flag 76 of the in- 'dicator 68 cooperates with the indicia 78 to designate the position of the antenna 16. Secured about the shaft as is a substantially U-shaped clamp member 80 which has a pair of legs 82 and 84. The leg 82 is provided with an aperture therethrough as at 86 and the leg 82 is threaded as at $3. There is provided .a threaded rod 96 which extends through the aperture 86 and is threadedly engaged within the threaded aperture 88. The rod 9i) is provided with a head as at 92. A handle 94 is provided for the rod 90 which extends through an aperture 96 in the casing 42. Hence, upon rotation of the handle 94 the clamp can be tightened or loosened about the shaft dd as may be desired to thus clampingly hold the shaft 4% in a desired position.

The operation of this device is quite simple. With the clamp 25% in a loosened position, the handle 44 may be rotated until the indicator 76 is at the position which has previously been determined to be the best for the particular frequency over Which wave energy has been broadcast and which it is desired to utilize the antenna it) to receive. Upon rotation of shaft 40, the pulley 34 will, of course, be rotated, thus actuating the cables 3% and 32 which, in turn, will actuate the pulley 20 to rotate the pulley 2t) and hence the antenna 10.

from the fate oiugi hev zqnstliucti-fin. and. operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications. and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the. art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the-exact. construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimedv as new is as follows:

An antenna, rotating means comprising an onerating shaft, a drive pulley on said shaft, a pair of endless cables entrained about said drive pulley, said shaft being rotatablY' mounted in a casing, anelongated slot in said casing, saidshaft extending through said easing, a handle on said shaft. for manually rotating said shaft, said shaft having a threaded port-ion, an indicator threadedly secured onsaid shaft having a portion extending through said slot, brake means extending through said casing and engaging said; shaft for holding said shaft in a locked position, a rectangular stop carried by said indicator engaging the interior walls of said casing for holding said indicator against rotation upon rotation of said shaft so that'said, indicator Will; advance along said shaft uponrotation of said. shaft, said, brake. means including a, U; clamp positioned about said shaft, said U-clarnp having a pair of legs, an aperture through one of said legs, a rod extending through said aperture and threadedly engaging the other of said legs, said rod extending through said casing, and a handle on, said rod for rotating said rod to tighten said U-cla'mp about said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES" PATENTS" OTHER REFERENCES Radio News, pp. 396-397, Jan. 1937'. 49, July 1937.

Radio, p. 

